The backlands unveiled

This essay presents readers with the central argument from three books, ran ging from Euclides da Cunha to Guimaraes Rosa and the hygienist movement of the 1920s, focusing on the theme of the sertao (backlands) in Brazilian li terature and social thought. Based on this presentation, the essay emphasiz es that linked to the topic under revie iv, Brazilian intellectual traditio n has nearly always encompassed classical themes from sociology and politic al science, like incorporation and nation-building. After digressing to the three authors' styles, the essay concludes by suggesting the validity of p erforming comparative studies on approaches to the Brazilian backlands and those conducted by North American scholars.